1 Jazz player in danger of losing starting job in 2025-26 training camp

The Utah Jazz are entering the 2025-26 NBA season after finishing last year with the worst record in the league at 17-65. This marked a franchise record for losses and was the first time the Jazz have ever lost more than 60 games in a single season. Despite the struggles, the team was rewarded with the fifth overall pick in the latest NBA Draft, selecting phenom prospect Ace Bailey out of Rutgers.

While this rebuild has taken longer than expected, the Utah Jazz are still in the early stages of working their way back to prominence. The roster continues to feature former All-Star Lauri Markkanen, who is looking to bounce back after playing just 47 games last season due to nagging injuries—the fewest in his eight-year NBA career. Markkanen remains the Jazz’s do-it-all big man, having shot 39% from three-point range in two of the last three seasons. Expect the Jazz to continue building around him moving forward.

The team is also waiting for draft picks Keyonte George and Walker Kessler to make their breakout impacts. With so much young talent on the roster, the Jazz will be looking to surprise some Western Conference foes this season. After a dismal 17-win campaign last year, it would be hard for this team to regress any further, especially given their health at the start of the season. However, the starting rotation is expected to remain volatile throughout the year, with changes possible in a matter of days.

### Jazz Starting Rotation

The projected Utah Jazz depth chart is as follows:

**Point Guard:** Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier
**Shooting Guard:** Walter Clayton Jr., Ace Bailey
**Small Forward:** Taylor Hendricks, Cody Williams / Svi Mykhailiuk
**Power Forward:** Lauri Markkanen, Georges Niang / KJ Martin / Brice Sensabaugh / Kyle Anderson
**Center:** Walker Kessler, Kyle Filipkowski / Jusuf Nurkic

### Key Notes

Unlike many other teams, the Jazz roster is expected to be quite fluid, especially given that they will likely be trailing in many games this season. This game flow should provide opportunities for bench players to prove their worth in real-time, potentially leading to starting position changes.

Lauri Markkanen is a guaranteed starter given his massive $238 million contract extension signed last season. Keyonte George should also firmly hold the starting point guard spot as he takes a major leap in his second year, carrying much of the team’s scoring load with 16.8 points per game in many situations without Markkanen. While George is still developing as a passer and game manager, his athletic ability gives him relative security in the starting role.

Isaiah Collier has shown positive flashes off the bench, and this season will be crucial for him to improve and add much-needed depth at the point guard position.

The center position is particularly interesting this year. Kyle Filipkowski comes off a Summer League MVP performance and seems to be a more versatile scorer opposite Walker Kessler. However, Kessler’s rebounding (12.2 RPG) and defensive presence—averaging a remarkable 2.4 blocks per game over three years—far outweigh Filipkowski’s contributions. Filipkowski offers scoring but hasn’t been a major factor defensively in terms of rim protection.

### Where Will Ace Bailey Play?

After an injury scare that sidelined him for the remainder of the Summer League, Ace Bailey showed flashes of his highly-touted athleticism and ability to rebound. In today’s position-less basketball landscape, Bailey is a prototypical prospect at 6-foot-8 with freakish athleticism.

Though currently listed as a forward and having performed as such during Summer League play, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Bailey play multiple positions for the Jazz this season. Walter Clayton Jr. currently occupies the shooting guard spot—a position where Bailey’s length and athleticism could help him thrive.

Additionally, the forward position on this roster is crowded and somewhat unbalanced, so Bailey could fill the explosive spark that a player like Collin Sexton provided last season.

### Who Will Start at Small Forward?

This remains one of the more open questions for the Jazz heading into the new season. With Taylor Hendricks, Cody Williams, and Svi Mykhailiuk all in the mix, the Jazz may experiment with rotations as they search for the ideal fit to complement their core players.

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With a young and dynamic roster, the Utah Jazz will be an intriguing team to watch as they look to build momentum and climb back to relevance in the highly competitive Western Conference. Fans should expect a season marked by growth, experimentation, and flashes of the potential that lies within this youthful squad.
https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/1-jazz-player-in-danger-of-losing-starting-job-in-2025-26-training-camp

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